Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today warned that Scotland needs a step change in mental health services as new figures revealed an estimated 672 Scots died as a result of suicide last year.

Commenting, Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“When someone takes their own life the impact on families and communities is absolutely devastating. We need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to give people struggling with suicidal thoughts the urgent help they need.

“Early intervention is crucial to helping people manage episodes of mental ill health but patients still face long waits for treatment. Some children and young people are still being forced to wait more than a year for specialist care. Spending on mental health as a share of the NHS budget has fallen again and again. This is a national scandal.

“The fact that the Scottish Government appointed a mental health minister is welcome. She now needs to deliver the step change in mental health services that is so desperately required.”

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